31 U.S. Code § 3556 - Nonexclusivity of remedies; matters included in agency record

This subchapter does not give the Comptroller General exclusive jurisdiction over protests, and nothing contained in this subchapter shall affect the right of any interested party to file a protest with the contracting agency or to file an action in the United States Court of Federal Claims. In any such action based on a procurement or proposed procurement with respect to which a protest has been filed under this subchapter, the reports required by sections
3553(b)(2) and
3554(e)(1) of this title with respect to such procurement or proposed procurement and any decision or recommendation of the Comptroller General under this subchapter with respect to such procurement or proposed procurement shall be considered to be part of the agency record subject to review.

1996—Pub. L. 104–320, which directed the amendment of this section by striking “a court of the United States or” in first sentence, was executed by striking “a district court of the United States or” after “to file an action in” in first sentence to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

Section applicable with respect to any protest filed after Jan. 14, 1985, see section 2751(b) ofPub. L. 98–369, set out as a note under section
2302 of Title
10, Armed Forces.

Nonexclusivity of GAO Remedies

Pub. L. 104–320, § 12(f),Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3876, provided that: “In the event that the bid protest jurisdiction of the district courts of the United States is terminated pursuant to subsection (d) [set out as a Sunset Provision note under section
1491 of Title
28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure], then section
3556 of title
31, United States Code, shall be amended by striking ‘a court of the United States or’ in the first sentence.” [Bid protest jurisdiction of the district courts of the United States terminated on Jan. 1, 2001, pursuant to section 12(d) ofPub. L. 104–320.]